The Carroll County Office on Aging has big plans for the $11,000 grant it received through the Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging’s statewide senior center initiative.
This marks the third year Carroll County’s senior center has received DDA funding. Previous grants helped pay for an ice machine, new cabinets, kitchen appliances, and doors.
“We’re thankful for our representatives and our county mayor,” said Director Melinda Quisenberry. “The county provides our space, and we try to make the most of it for the people who come here.”
Quisenberry said the funding will help with much-needed technology updates, promotional materials, and recognition events for volunteers and older residents.
“We’re going to get new computers, printers, and a refrigerator,” she said. “We also want a laptop that seniors can use when they come in and need to look up things or send documents.”
Promotional items are another priority, she added, to help more local residents learn about the center and its programs.
“A lot of people don’t even realize Carroll County has a senior center,” she said. “Unless you already come here, you might not know about us.”
About the Senior Center
The Carroll County Senior Center is located inside the Carroll County Office Complex at 625 High Street. It is open to adults 60 and older and those with disabilities.
The center offers activities, social opportunities, and support throughout the week.
They are open Monday from 8 a.m.–3 p.m., and Tuesday–Friday 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
Some programs and activities they offer regularly include:
- Bingo: Wednesdays at 1 p.m., with free blood pressure checks at 12:30 p.m.
- Monthly Potluck: Second Friday of each month, blood pressure checks at 11 a.m. and lunch at noon.
- Band Night: First Tuesday of each month at the Civic Center, 6–9 p.m., with finger foods at 6.
- Exercise: “Seniorcise” classes at First Baptist Church Mondays and Thursdays at 9 a.m.
- Quilters & Knitters: Tuesdays around 10 a.m. in the north wing of the Office Complex.
Carroll County’s Department of Aging also coordinates Meals on Wheels for local seniors, packing and delivering meals to more than 60 recipients each week through a network of volunteers.
In addition to daily and monthly activities, the center hosts special events throughout the year, including a Senior Day at the Carroll County Fair, a Halloween party (scheduled this year for October 31 at noon), and numerous celebrations during Older Americans Month in May.
They occasionally go on day trips to various places, as well. Most recently, residents went to Lambert’s Cafe in Sikeston, Missouri.
April is dedicated to recognizing the center’s volunteers, and Quisenberry said some of this year’s grant funds will go toward gifts and a luncheon to honor their work.
For more information about programs or Meals on Wheels eligibility, residents can contact the Carroll County Office on Aging at (731) 986-1985 or visit the center at 625 High Street, Suite 108 Huntingdon, Tennessee 38344.
